Workforce Development Center at STCC exposes high school students to career pathways

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Students from the High Road School of Hartford immersed themselves in various types of career training at Springfield Technical Community College.

Over the course of three days, the students gained insight into healthcare, digital printing and precision manufacturing.

The Workforce Development Center at STCC is working with area organizations as part of its community outreach to expose potential students to various career paths.

“We thought it was amazing,” said Allena Hall, teacher’s assistant at High Road School. “It’s awesome that the kids got to learn different trades. One of our students is very artistic, so he loved doing the graphic design course. That was new to him.”

The students each morning took a bus to STCC from High Road School, a state-approved privatized special education day school for individuals with social, emotional and behavioral challenges.

On the first day, they went to Building 20, where the health programs are taught. The four students got to sample what it’s like to be in an EMT training program. Within a few minutes, they were on their knees and performing chest compressions on CPR manikins, discovering the basics of CPR.

On the second day, they sat behind desktop computers and used software to create digital images for T-shirts.

We thought it was amazing. It’s awesome that the kids got to learn different trades. One of our students is very artistic, so he loved doing the graphic design course. That was new to him. Allena Hall, teacher’s assistant at High Road

On the final day, the students visited the STCC mechanical engineering technology lab and learned how to design and build fidget spinners using a CNC (computer numeric control) machine.

“It was great,” Hall said. “We were able to get a lot of information over three days. One of our students is interested in applying to STCC after he graduates. He loves the school and liked the professors who were helping us out.”

The STCC Community Education portfolio acquaints community members with the technical side of the college. It provides students with a "hands on" approach to the many certificate programs available at Springfield Technical Community College, said Elliot Levy, senior director for the Workforce Development Center at STCC.

“We want students to work on a project to energize interests in the technical part of our name. For a minimum fee, students can engage in a three-day, three rotation sampling of our technical programs,” Levy said.

“STCC’s Workforce Development Center offers many career pathways,” Levy added. “These programs are affordable and driven by industry needs. People who get the training will find themselves in demand when they apply for jobs.” 

For more information about courses offered through the Workforce Development Center, visit www.stcc.edu/wdc.

About Springfield Technical Community College

Founded in 1967 and located on 35 acres of the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, STCC is a major resource for the economic vitality of Western Massachusetts. As the only technical community college in Massachusetts, STCC, a designated Hispanic Serving Institution and an Achieving the Dream Leader College, offers a variety of career programs unequalled in the state. STCC’s highly regarded transfer programs in business, engineering, liberal arts, science and technology continue to provide the most economical options for students pursuing a four-year degree. With an annual enrollment of more than 7,400 day, evening, weekend and online students, STCC is a vibrant campus rich in diversity.

For more information about STCC, visit www.stcc.edu. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@S_T_C_C) and Instagram (@stccpics).

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu

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